Getting Started with DataPulse
DataPulse is a real-time analytics dashboard that connects to your databases, APIs, and third-party services to give you a unified view of your business metrics. This guide walks you through setup, connecting your first data source, and building your first dashboard.
Before you begin Make sure you have admin access to the data sources you want to connect. Read-only credentials work for most integrations, but some require write access for event tracking.
Initial Setup
Follow these steps after creating your DataPulse account. The setup wizard covers most of this automatically, but here's what each step does and why it matters.
Verify Your Email
Check your inbox for a verification link. Without this, you can't invite teammates or connect external data sources.
Create Your Workspace
Your workspace is the container for all dashboards, data sources, and team members. Use your company name — it appears in shared links and exports.
Set Your Timezone
Navigate to Settings → Workspace → Timezone. This affects all timestamp displays and scheduled report delivery times.
Invite Your Team
Go to Settings → Members → Invite. Assign roles: Admin, Editor, or Viewer. Viewers can see dashboards but cannot edit or connect new data sources.
Connecting Your First Data Source
DataPulse supports over 40 integrations. Here's how to connect a PostgreSQL database — the process is similar for other sources.
Via the UI
Go to Data Sources → Add New → PostgreSQL. Enter your connection credentials and click Test Connection before saving.
Use a read-only database user DataPulse only needs SELECT access. Never use a superuser or admin credential for analytics connections.
Via Environment Config
If you're self-hosting DataPulse, you can define data sources in your .env file:
# PostgreSQL connection DP_DB_HOST=your-db-host.rds.amazonaws.com DP_DB_PORT=5432 DP_DB_NAME=analytics_prod DP_DB_USER=datapulse_readonly DP_DB_PASS=your-secure-password DP_DB_SSL=true
Creating Your First Dashboard
Click the + New Dashboard button from the home screen. Give it a name and choose a layout template, or start blank.
Adding Widgets
Click Add Widget inside any dashboard. Choose a visualization type — Line Chart, Bar Chart, Number Card, Table, or Map — then select your data source and configure the query.
Pro Tip Use Number Cards for key metrics at the top of your dashboard (e.g. MRR, DAU, Churn Rate), then use charts below to show trends over time.
Filters & Date Ranges
Dashboard-level filters apply to all widgets simultaneously. Add a filter by clicking Filters → Add Filter at the top of your dashboard. Common filter types: date range, segment, region, and plan type.
Setting Up Alerts
Alerts notify you when a metric crosses a threshold. Go to Alerts → New Alert, pick a metric from any connected data source, and define your condition.
Threshold Types
| Type | Triggers When | Example Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| above | Metric exceeds value | Error rate > 5% |
| below | Metric drops below value | Daily signups < 10 |
| change_% | % change vs previous period | Revenue drops >20% week-over-week |
| anomaly | ML-detected unusual pattern | Sudden traffic spike or drop |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open command palette | Ctrl + K |
| New dashboard | Ctrl + Shift + N |
| Add widget | A (on dashboard) |
| Toggle fullscreen widget | F |
| Refresh all data | Ctrl + R |
FAQ
How often does data refresh?
Free plans refresh every 24 hours. Pro plans support real-time streaming and configurable intervals (minimum 1 minute).
Can I export dashboards to PDF?
Yes. Click Share → Export PDF on any dashboard. You can also schedule automated PDF reports to be emailed to stakeholders on a daily or weekly basis.
Is my data stored by DataPulse?
DataPulse queries your data source directly and caches results for performance. Raw data is never permanently stored on DataPulse servers. See the Privacy Policy for details.